Protective glove inner lining system

Abstract

A protective liner for the skin of the palm, specially suited for the prevention of blisters resulting from many activities that involve holding an item or handlebar for long periods of time, such as riding all types of ATV's, motorcycles, bicycles, and all various types of hand-tools, to overcome the problem of conventional gloves constantly slipping back and forth against the surface of the skin, slowly abrading and rubbing until a blister forms. The protective liner can be disposable, and used with gloves or various grips. The protective liner includes an adhesive pad with three stringers and two or three extensions. The pad adheres to the pad on the palm of the user's hand and the adhesive stringers fit between the fingers of the user. The adhesive extensions then wrap around the outside of the palm and secure the stringers against the back of the user's hand.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a disposable, pre-formed protective liner for the skin of the palm, and more specifically, a pad with an adhesive layer that adheres to the palm of the users' hand, with extensions fitting between the fingers of the user, to prevent abrasive rubbing and the formation of hot-spots and blisters. The protective liner is well suited for activities that involve holding an item or handlebar for long periods of time, and especially useful in overcoming the problem with conventional gloves, which typically slip and abrade against the surface of the skin.

BACKGROUND

Absorbent and protective liners are a well-known addition to gloves, and often worn beneath a rubber or scratchable types of gloves. Additionally, endurance automobile, ATV, motorcycle and bicycle riders often require supplemental palm padding, to more comfortably hold handlebars and steering wheels, for extended periods of time. Construction, lumber and sanitary service jobs, or any material handling occupation, often require padded gloves or glove liners. Certain padded liners use velcro around the wrist and the thumb to improve grip or prevent the liner from slipping on the hand. To prevent unwanted movement of the liner, bulky finger rings or loops are sometimes employed in these existing palm pads, to ring around the middle fingers of the hand and hold the pad in place. These rings are bulky and can prevent the user from wearing a tightly fitted glove over the ring-fitted pad. Furthermore, adding a bulky ring or fastener to the liner increases the likelihood of rubbing and blistering from the ring or fastener, itself.

A new system for a less bulky protective liner for the palm is needed that better secures a padding onto the palm, without the need for bulky fasteners, rings or loops. The present invention solves these prior problems, by providing a uniquely improved, simple and efficient protective liner. The aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following figures and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1L is a plan view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1R is a plan view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7L is a plan view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7R is a plan view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a protective liner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Reference characters included in the above drawings indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as discussed herein. The description herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and the description herein is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. It should be understood that the above listed figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views, graphic symbols, diagrammatic or schematic representations, and phantom lines. Details that are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention by one skilled in the technology of the invention, or render other details difficult to perceive, may have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A protective liner for use in protecting the skin of the palm is shown in FIGS. 1 through 9. The protective liner 15 is preformed and specially suited for the preventing or reducing rubbing and blistering, along with the dampening of vibrations, inherent to many activities that involve holding a handle, handlebar or steering wheel, for long periods of time. Palm pads can provide hand comfort in riding all types of vehicles, especially ATV's, motorcycles, bicycles, and additionally in using all the various types of hand-tools. Any sport that involves wear on the hand, or jobs requiring the manual moving of containers or materials can also benefit form the use of palm pads. A conventional glove does not affix directly to the hand, and so the glove constantly slips back and forth against the surface of the skin, slowly abrading the skin until a rub mark or blister forms. The protective liner of the present invention can be employed with gloves or similar grips and pads, to offer additional protection to a user.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the protective liner 15 preferably includes a pad 17, which has with three ‘stringers’ 18 and two ‘extensions’ 19. FIG. 2 shows a hand 20 and wrist 21 of a user of the present invention, with a palm 22 facing up, and also show fingers 23. For the purpose of the present disclosure, the thumb also may be referred to as a finger. The palm includes a palm pad 24, which is a portion of the hand on the palm of the user, proximate to the fingers. Additionally, the hand includes a backside 25, opposite to the palm, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The protective liner, for use with a typical adult sized hand, can be cut from a square of material measuring approximately nine inches by nine inches, depending on the desired pad size, and length of the stringers and extensions.

The term “approximately” is used herein to refer to a range of values or relative orientations, understood by a person skilled in the pertinent field or skill, as being substantially equivalent to the herein stated values in achieving the desired results, a range typical to the accuracy and precision of conventional tooling, instrumentation or techniques, or a functionally equivalent range of features that produce equivalent results to those described herein.

A preferred material for the protective liner 15 is a breathable adhesive coated tape material, employing a lightweight fabric for the pad 17, approximately one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness, which is coated on one side with a latex free, synthetic elastomer adhesive, simply referred to herein as an adhesive layer 27, selected for excellent initial adhesion along with a low increase in adhesion over time, with excellent cohesive strength and clean removal from skin, without residue or skin trauma. A most preferred material for the protective liner is the Tan Moleskin Products type of adhesive coated tape material, specifically product numbers 54-9004T and 55-1250T, as manufactured by Jaybird & Mais, Inc., of Lawrence, Mass., USA. The ‘Jaybird’ brand of moleskin tape material employs a cotton fabric the pad 17, which is coated on one side with a latex free, synthetic rubber based adhesive for the adhesive layer 27, selected for superior tack qualities, with excellent cohesive strength and clean removal from skin, without residue or skin trauma. Preferably, a protective film 29 is applied over the adhesive layer. In the preferred Jaybird moleskin tape material, this protective film, also referred to herein as a “release liner,” is a white silicon film.

Alternatively, any moleskin or similar type of material could be employed for use as the material for the pad 17 of the protective liner 15, with a suitable skin adhesive as the adhesive layer 27, together selected to suit the environment and rigors of use, particular to the intended implementation of the protective liner.

Preferably, the pad 17 of the protective liner 15, with the aid of the adhesive layer 27, adheres to the palm pad 24. The stringers 18 and the extensions 19 are strips of the protective layer 15. With the pad 17 on the user's palm pad, the stringers fit between the fingers 23 of the user. The extensions then wrap around the outside of the hand 20 and secure the stringers against the backside 25 of the user's hand.

For a preferred embodiment of the pad 15, FIGS. 1L and 1R show the protective liner 15 in its left-handed liner 15L and right handed liner 15R embodiments, for attachment to the left and right hands, respectively. Alternatively, in a more preferred embodiment of the pad, FIGS. 7L and 7R show the protective liner 15′ in its left-handed liner 15′L and right handed liner 15′R embodiments, for attachment to the left and right hands, respectively. The embodiments of FIGS. 7L and 7R, along with FIGS. 8 and 9, show the pad with an additional extension 19, namely a third extension 19C, as will be discussed later herein.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hand 20 of the typical user has fingers 23, which include an “index” or first finger 31, a “middle” or second finger 32, a “ring” or third finger 33, a “pinky” or fourth finger 34, and a “thumb” or fifth finger 35.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1L and 1R, and the protective liner 15, or alternatively 7L and 7R preferably includes three stringers 18. Namely, the stringers can include a first stringer 18A, a second stringer 18B, and a third stringer 18C. Each of the stringers extends from the pad of the protective liner and terminates at a terminal end 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first stringer 18A is shaped to fit between the first finger 31 and the second finger 32. The term “shaping” is used herein to denote cutting, stamping, pressing, or otherwise forming the pad 15 and associated adhesive layer 27 into the desired shape as exemplified in FIGS. 1L and 1R, or alternatively as pad 15′ in 7L and 7R. A die cutting press is a preferred method for shaping the pad into the desired form for use, as is well known fo use in the quick and efficient cutting of heavier weight materials. Electric or pneumatic fabric cutters are also known and an industrial automated laser cutting tool is also a possible cutting tool.

Just as the first stringer 18A is shaped to fit between the first finger 31 and the second finger 32, the second stringer 18B is shaped to fit between the second finger and the third finger 33. Similarly, the third stringer 18C is shaped to fit between the third finger and the forth finger 34.

As also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the extensions 19 include a first extension 19A and a second extension 19B. The extensions are similar to the stringers 18 in form, but preferably wider relative to the stringers, to better tighten across the hand 20 of the user. The first extension is shaped to fit between the index finger 31 or “first finger,” and the thumb 35 or “fifth finger.” Similarly, the second extension is shaped to fit between the pinky finger 34 or “fourth finger,” and the wrist 21 of the user.

More preferably, as introduced above, the third extension 19C is also included, as shown in relation to the hand 20 of the user, and again is preferably similar to the stringers 18 in form, but preferably wider relative to the stringers, to better tighten across the hand. The third extension is shaped to fit between the thumb 35 or “fifth finger” and the wrist 21 of the user, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

A preferred method of using the protective liner 15 includes the initial selection of the proper sized and handed protective liner, which is preferably the left-handed liner 15L of FIG. 1L or 15′L of FIG. 7L, or the right-handed liner 15R of FIG. 1R or 15′R of FIG. 7R. As discussed above, the protective liner includes the protective film 29 on the adhesive layer 27, and removing the protective film or release liner, serves to release or enable adhesion of the protective liner onto the palm 22 of the user. The release liner is peeled off and the protective liner is centered within in the palm 22 of the hand 20 of the user, as shown in FIG. 3.

With the protective liner 15 in this preferred centered position, the three stringers 18 extend between the fingers 23 around to the backside 25 of the hand through the gaps between the fingers.

Specifically, the first stringer is placed between the first finger 31 and the second finger 32, the second stringer 18B is placed between the second finger and the third finger 33, and the third stringer 18C is placed between the third finger and the forth finger 34.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3, the first extension 19A hangs through the gap between the index finger 31 and the thumb 35. On the opposite side of the hand 20, the second extension 19B hangs over the side of the hand, between the pinky finger 34 and the wrist 21 of the user.

As shown in FIG. 4, the three stringers 18 are tightly secured and adhered to the backside 25 of the hand 20. Most preferably, the stringers are pulled down tightly, so there are no wrinkles in the stringers, and the adhesive layer 27 sticks the stringers evenly and securely to the backside of the hand.

The extensions 19 may now be adhered to the backside 25 of the hand 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Most preferably, the second extension 19B is first pulled tight across the backside of the hand, preferably while rubbing the protective liner smooth across the palm 22, until there are no wrinkles in the pad 17. As detailed in FIG. 4, the second extension is then pulled across the backside of the hand and pressed down over the terminal ends 40 of all three stringers 18.

After adhering the second extension 19B to the backside 25 of the hand 20, as shown in FIG. 5, or alternatively FIG. 8 for the embodiment with the third extension 19C, the first extension 19A is pulled tight across the backside of the hand, again while preferably rubbing the protective liner smooth across the palm 22, until there are no wrinkles in the pad 17. As detailed in FIGS. 5 and 8, the first extension is then pulled across the backside of the hand and pressed down over the terminal ends 40 of all three stringers 18,

Finally, as shown in FIG. 8 for the alternative embodiment protective liner 15′, which includes the third extension 19C, this third extension is then pulled across the backside 25 of the hand 20, and pressed down.

FIG. 6 shows the protective liner 15, or alternatively FIG. 9 for the protective liner embodiment 15′ with the third extension 19C. Both FIGs detail the hand 20 of the user, with the pad 17 of the protective liner 15 securely adhered to the palm 22. The user can rub out and initial wrinkles, to achieve a smooth adhesion of the protective liner, and then place the hand and protective liner into a glove or use the protective liner without the glove, as needed.

For the above preferred methods of the invention, the order of applying the various extensions 19 and stringers 18 to the hand 20 of the user are not deemed critical to the invention, as any order would likely achieve the desired protective function of the protective liner 15 or alternately 15′. However, the above detailed method of first applying the stringers, and then wrapping the various extensions, is most preferred.

Having now described my invention, to those persons skilled in the art to which it pertains, it may become apparent that the need to make modifications without deviating from the intention of the design as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A protective liner for protecting a palm of a hand including:

a pad of a thin and flexible sheet material formed to fit in the palm, the pad adhere-able to the palm of the user's hand;

a plurality of stringers extended from the pad, the stringers each comprising of a strip of the thin and flexible sheet material, the stringers each fitted adjacent to a finger of the user's hand, the stringers each having a terminal end; and

each terminal end of the stringers adhere-able to the backside of the user's hand.

2. The protective liner of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stingers provide a tension across the pad, to maintain a smooth surface on the pad across the palm of the user.

3. The protective liner of claim 1, wherein:

the hand includes a thumb adjacent to an index finger, the index finger adjacent to a middle finger, the middle finger adjacent to a ring finger, and the ring finger adjacent to a pinky finger; and

the plurality of stringers includes a first stringer fitted for placement between the index finger and the middle finger, a second stringer fitted for placement between the middle finger and the ring finger, and a third stringer for placement between the ring finger and the pinky finger.

4. The protective liner of claim 3, wherein the plurality of stringers include:

a first extension for wrapping around the hand of the user, between the thumb and a first adjacent finger; and

a second extension for wrapping around the hand of the user, between a pinky finger and the wrist of the user.

5. The protective liner of claim 4, wherein the plurality of stringers additionally include:

a third extension for wrapping around the hand of the user, between the thumb and the wrist of the user.

6. A protective liner for protecting a palm of a hand including:

a pad of a thin sheet of material formed to fit in the palm, the pad adhere-able to the palm of the user's hand, the hand having a thumb adjacent to an index finger, the index finger adjacent to a middle finger, the middle finger adjacent to a ring finger, and the ring finger adjacent to a pinky finger;

a plurality of stringers extended from the pad, the stringers each contiguous and comprising of a strip of the thin sheet of material, and the stringers each having a terminal end;

the plurality of stringers including a first stringer contiguous to the pad and formed of the same sheet of thin material, the first stringer fitted for placement between the index finger and the middle finger.

the plurality of stringers including a second stringer contiguous to the pad and formed of the same sheet of thin material extended from the pad, a second stringer fitted for placement between the middle finger and the ring finger, the stringers fitted between an adjacent pair of fingers of the user's hand;

the plurality of stringers including a third stringer contiguous to the pad and formed of the same sheet of thin material, the third stringer fitted for placement between the ring finger and the pinky finger;

each terminal end of the plurality of stringers adhere-able to the backside of the user's hand;

a first extension for wrapping around the hand of the user between the thumb and first adjacent finger, the first extension adhere-able to the terminal end of the plurality of stringers; and

a second extension for wrapping around the hand of the user between the pinky finger and the wrist of the user and adhere-able to the first extension.

7. The protective liner of claim 6, wherein the plurality of stringers additionally include:

a third extension for wrapping around the hand of the user, between the thumb and the wrist of the user.

8. The protective liner of claim 6, wherein the plurality of stingers provide a tension across the pad, to maintain a smooth surface on the pad across the palm of the user.

9. A protective liner for protecting a palm of a hand including:

a pad of a thin sheet of material formed to fit in the palm, the pad adhere-able to the palm of the user's hand, the hand having a thumb adjacent to an index finger, the index finger adjacent to a middle finger, the middle finger adjacent to a ring finger, and the ring finger adjacent to a pinky finger;

a first stringer contiguous to the pad and formed of the same thin sheet of material, fitted for placement between the index finger and the middle finger, a second stringer fitted for placement between the middle finger and the ring finger, and a third stringer for placement between the ring finger and the pinky finger.

a second stringer contiguous to the pad and formed of the same thin sheet of material extended from the pad, the first stringer comprising a strip of the protective liner, the stringers fitted between an adjacent pair of fingers of the user's hand, the stringers each having a terminal end;

each terminal end of the stringer adhere-able to the backside of the user's hand;

a first extension for wrapping around the hand of the user between the thumb and first adjacent finger, and adhering to the terminal end of the stringers; and

a second extension for wrapping around the hand of the user between the pinky finger and the wrist of the user and adhering to the first extension.

10. The protective liner of claim 9, wherein the plurality of stringers additionally include:

a third extension for wrapping around the hand of the user, between the thumb and the wrist of the user.

11. The protective liner of claim 9, wherein the plurality of stingers provide a tension across the pad, to maintain a smooth surface on the pad across the palm of the user.